Daughter of aristocratic family

Chapter 42 Lectures
  The female relatives of the four palaces all got off the carriage outside the mountain gate of Zifu Temple. They were very polite to each other and said humbly: "Please."

"Please."

"After you."

After some negotiation, Mrs. Yongguogong, the mother of the first empress, took the lead together with Mrs. Zhao, the mother of her successor, followed by Mrs. Yongchanghou, the mother of Concubine Jing, and Mrs. Zhou, the mother of Concubine Rou.

The girls in the four houses were not very familiar with each other, and this kind of occasion was not suitable for conversation, so they climbed up the stairs in silence.

When we arrived outside the Heavenly King's Hall, the abbot of the temple had been waiting for a long time. He clasped his hands and said, "Amitabha, I am so polite here."

"Namo Amitabha." Everyone clasped their hands in return.

"Amitabha, please benefactors." The host extended his hand to lead.

In the Tianwang Hall, smoke curls up, and the tall Buddha statues are majestic.

The little novice monk distributed the lit incense to everyone one by one, and the host asked them to burn incense. "My Buddha is compassionate. Many donors came to burn incense today. I also ask for the Buddha's blessings, and everything will go well."

Everyone bowed down together and said, "Namo Amitabha."

The Main Hall is located to the north of the Tianwang Hall. The front of the hall is dedicated to the Buddha Sakyamuni, Medicine Buddha and Amitabha. On the east and west sides are the Eighteen Arhats. Behind the statue of Sakyamuni is a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Coming out of the Main Hall and walking in, you will find the Three Holy Temples and the Guanyin Hall.
  Incense was burned in all the halls, and then the host led everyone to the layman's courtyard.

The Residential Courtyard was all the same, there was nothing to choose from, and of course the host didn't let them choose. The Zhao family was arranged to live in the Shandu Courtyard.

People who come to Zifu Temple to offer incense are either rich or noble, so the decoration of the Zen room is quite exquisite.

Hong Chang and Lu Zhi were busy taking out their luggage and putting it away. Zhao Wangshu sat on a chair by the window and stared at the bamboo outside the window in a daze.

Zhao Jiahua and Liu Shuqing passed by the window. Zhao Jiahua lightly knocked on the window frame and said, "Sister Shu, let's go out for a walk."

"Have you not had enough shopping?" Zhao Wangshu lay lazily on the table.

"If you don't go to the palace, go to the back mountain."

"Go tomorrow, we have to stay here for about ten days, enough for you to go shopping." Zhao Wangshu said.

Zhao Jiahua was persuaded by her, walked into the room, pulled out the chair and sat down, "Okay, I'll go tomorrow."

They didn't sit in the room for long. It was already noon. According to the rules in the temple, monks do not eat after noon. Pilgrims living in the layman's courtyard, even though they are not monks, must abide by this rule.

The vegetarian food at Zifu Temple can only be described as average in taste. Zhao Wangshu thought of going to Yaoshan Zhizhi in Huangjue Temple. He hoped that the vegetarian food at Huangjue Temple would be as delicious as the rumors.

After the fast meal, Zhao Wangshu wanted to go back to the Zen room to take a rest. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Zhao said, "Follow me to listen to the master's lecture in the afternoon."

Girls from other prefectures could not escape and gathered in the sutra hall to listen to sutra lectures.

As soon as she entered the sutra hall, Zhao Wangshu chose a seat in the corner and sat down. Zhao Jiahua and Liu Shuqing sat next to her.

The lecturer was an old monk with a calm face and compassionate eyes.

He was talking about the Shurangama Sutra. Zhao Wangshu didn't understand much and looked at the people around him boredly. Liu Shuqing sat upright with his hands on his legs, not squinting and listening attentively.

Opposite her were Zhao Yuying and Zhao Yuxiu, who yawned frequently.

After listening to the lecture in the afternoon, Zhao Wangshu thought that everything was fine and he could go back to his room to rest. Unexpectedly, he would have to attend evening classes with the monk.

The monk said in front of him, "Namo Lotus Pond Haihui Buddha and Bodhisattva. The supreme and profound subtle Dharma has been encountered for hundreds of thousands of kalpas. Now that I have seen and heard it, I accept it and uphold it. I wish to understand the true meaning of the Tathagata."

Zhao Wangshu could still understand these sentences and read them along, but when the scriptures were being read, she was at a loss. She couldn't hear a single word clearly, let alone understand them, and could only mumble them in confusion.

Zhao Jiahua came up to her and asked, "Sister Shu, what are you reading?"

Zhao Wangshu glanced at her sideways and said, "Recite sutras."

"Pfft." Zhao Jiahua couldn't help but laugh out loud. What she heard Sister Shu read was not scripture.

"Pay attention, the old lady is looking over." Zhao Wangshu threatened her. Zhao Jiahua immediately straightened his face and sat upright. It was Zhao Wangshu's turn to purse his lips and snicker.

After the evening class, the abbot of the temple understood that they had never skipped lunch and asked the dining hall to prepare food, which is called medicine stone in Buddhism.

"I'm so hungry. I can finally eat." Zhao Yuxiu wolfed down the food.

"Sister Xiu, pay attention to your manners, the old lady is watching you." Zhao Shuhui reminded in a low voice.

Zhao Yuxiu glanced at Old Mrs. Zhao, and saw that she was staring at her with an unkind look. She quickly changed her mind, feeling unhappy and muttering: "Isn't she hungry? Can't she just stare at others and concentrate on eating? It's really annoying."

Zhao Shuhui pulled off her sleeves and did not dare to remind her any more.

After filling their stomachs and working hard all day, the girls could finally go back to their rooms to wash up and rest.

But Zhao Wangshu felt that she hadn't slept long before Luzhi came to wake her up, "What time is it?"

There were candles burning in the room, and it was still dark.

"Yin Shizheng."

"Why did you wake me up so early?" Zhao Wangshu covered his mouth and yawned.

"I want to have morning classes with the masters." Luzhi replied.

Zhao Wangshu was stunned, "What did you say?"

"Girls have to attend morning classes with the masters." Luzhi repeated the answer.

Zhao Wangshu, who couldn't believe it, laughed angrily, "We are here to worship the Buddha, not to become monks. Why do we have to follow the same schedule as the monks in the temple?"

No matter how unwilling he was, Zhao Wangshu still had to get up and go to morning class. When he saw other girls, he found that they were all just like her, tired and tired.

At their age, it's a good time to sleep. It's really torture for them who have never gotten up so early before.

Fortunately, after attending morning classes and eating fast food, the girls had nothing to do. Mrs. Zhao did not restrain them and allowed them to wander around, "Don't go too far, it's just around the temple."

"I know, old lady." Zhao Wangshu responded.

As soon as the old lady and the ladies left, the girls politely exchanged names, said hello, and separated, then each family went to their own house.

The Zhao girl went out through the north door and saw a purple bamboo forest not far away.

"There's nothing interesting about bamboo." Zhao Yuxiu's words made Zhao Wangshu, who wanted to go in and have a look, give up the idea.

However, if you have to stay in the temple for more than ten days, you still have a chance to play.

The girls walked slowly along the winding path. The scenery around the temple was beautiful, with towering ancient trees and green grass. The environment was quiet, and the clear chirping of birds came from time to time in the forest.

Feeling the tranquility and beauty here, I feel happy.

Zhao Shuhui saw the wild flowers blooming beautifully on the roadside, so she picked some and made garlands.

"This garland is so beautiful. Sister Hui, can you make one for me?" Zhao Yuying asked.

"I'll teach you how to weave it. This is for Sister Shu." Zhao Shuhui handed the wreath to Zhao Wangshu.

"Thank you." Zhao Wangshu put the wreath on his head and asked her, "Does it look good?"

Zhao Shuhui smiled and said: "It looks good."

"Sister Shu, you are more beautiful than a flower." Zhao Jiahua put his arm around Zhao Wangshu's shoulders and said to Zhao Shuhui: "Sister Hui, please help me make up two more."

"No trouble." Zhao Shuhui smiled shyly and led Zhao Yuying to pick wild flowers on the roadside. Everyone also helped pick them, and soon everyone had a handful.

"There seems to be an open space ahead. Let's go there." Zhao Yuxiu said sharply.

(End of this chapter)